Garment



June 25, 1963 D. NEILSON GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1960 INVENTOR. M/l/QY 0. Ali/L80 :4?

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June 25 1963 M. D. NEILSON 3,094,990

I GARMENT Filed Feb. 19, 1960 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 69 7/ 70 INVENTOR.

MARY D. A/f/ZJO/V A 770 RIVEYS.

United States Patent 3,094,990 GARMENT Mary D. Neils'on, 2035 Crestlake Ave., South Pasadena, Calif. Filed Feb. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 9,748 17 Claims. (Cl. 128-289) This invention relates to an article of wearing apparel primarily intended for the protection of outer clothing from direct contact with certain portions of the body.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article in the nature of a loin cloth which can be passed through the crotch and brought up to the front and rear of the wearer to protect her outer clothing from being stained by perspiration.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an article of wearing apparel which can be either self-suspending, or which can be suspended from another article of apparel, such as by attachment to a girdle or corset.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such an article of wearing apparel which will remain in place regardless of the wearers moving about.

Still another object of the invention is to provide this type of article which can be put on by the user while standing up or lying down, thereby making the advantages of the invention available to cripples, invalids, and bedridden persons, who cannot bend over to step into a garment.

This invention is carried out with the use of a flexible sheet of material, such as a piece of cloth, having dimensions of length and width. The sheet is passed along its dimension of length through the crotch of the person and brought up in front of and behind the wearer. The dimension of width of the sheet in front of the person is selected such that no substantial part of the sheet contacts the front regions of the persons legs.

Suspension means are provided for holding the sheet, which means comprise four lengths of elastic material,

- elastic cord being the preferred material, and a fastener on each of said lengths for being attached at four spacedapart locations on the sheet, two on the front and two on the back. These lengths are adapted to be supported,

two at each side of the person, at a level above the upper ends of the sheet when in place.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, the lentghs are integral in pairs ISO that the lengths at each side of the wearer are portions of the same continuous structure.

According to still another preferred but optional feature of the invention, means are provided for suspending the lengths from the waist of the user, said means preferably, but not necessarily, comprising a ring of material the same as that of the lengths, the lengths being suspended two from each of two points at opposite sides of the ring.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet forming part of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the presently preferred form of the suspension means for the sheet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the invention on a wearer;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 5 on a wearer;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, showing the device suspended from a girdle;

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FIG. 8 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of suspension means;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is an elevation of a portion of FIG. 10.

In FIG. 1, there is shown a sheet 10 which may conveniently have hems 11, 12 at each of its ends. This sheet has dimensions of length 13 and width 14. Front end 15 is narrowerer than back end 16 in the preferred embodiment. Four buttonholes, 17, 18, 19, 20 are provided at four spaced-apart locations on the sheet, preferably, though not necessarily, at the corners as shown. Because the forces exerted on the sheet will be exerted diagonally at the corners, the buttonholes are preferably placed slanted relative to the dimensions of length and width.

FIG. 2 illustrates the presently preferred embodiment of suspension means 25. This suspension means comprises two continuous cords 26, 27 which may conveniently be constructed of round elastic cord. These cords are the same length, and are placed side by side. Two knots 28, 29 are tied in both cords to knot the cords together at spaced-apart locations, thereby providing a waistband 30 with an opening 31 therein. Projecting from knot 28, there are two lengths 32, 33 of elastic cord, and from knot 29, there are lengths 34, 35. Lengths 32, 33 are continuous with each other through knot 28, and lengths 34, 35 are continuons with each other through knot 29.

Lengths 32-35 carry buttons 36-39, respectively, at their free ends. These buttons can be attached at the ends of the lengths by passing a free end of the length through two holes in the respective buttons and tying knots 40, 41, 42, 43 to hold the button in place. This convenient construction provides a waistband with a central opening for the body, and four pendent lengths of elastic cord, as shown in FIG. 3.

The device of FIG. 1 is put on the body by stepping through opening 31 to install the waistband around the waist. If the person cannot bend over to step into the opening, the suspension means can be pulled down from the top by putting the head and shoulders through the opening.

The back end 16 of the sheet is next buttoned in place, the sheet then passed through the crotch, and the front buttons buttoned to the buttonholes of the front end. The device is then in position as shown.

The dimension of Width of the sheet may be as selected, with the limitation that there should not be any portion 'of it in contact with the front surfaces of the legs of the wearer for reasons yet to be discussed. Ordinarily, the dimensions will be about as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where there is a comparatively wider spread of the sheet over the back side of the user than at the front, and wherein the sheet will, when worn, be somewhat tapered, inasmuch as it will tend to gather in the crotch. If desired, the dimension of width may be tapered down toward the center of the sheet so as to reduce the amount of gathering when the sheet is placed in the crotch. Also, the front end could be made as wide or wider than the back end, if for some reason that were preferred.

An alternate embodiment of the sheet is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a sheet portion 50 having the same construction as sheet 10 in FIG. 1 also has leg portions 51, 52 sewed thereto and projecting from medial portions of the sides thereof. These leg portions are for the purpose of protecting the inner surfaces of the users legs from chafing. While, because of the contact of these leg portions with the front of the legs, the user will be deprived of certain advantages of the embodiment of FIG. 1, still enough advantages remain to make this a desirable embodiment, particularly when combined with the relief from chafing provided by these leg portions. Leg portions 51, 52 have respective elastic bands 53, 54 which carry buttons 55, 56 at one corner of each of the leg portions. At the other free corners of the leg portions, there are elastic bands 57, 58 which respectively carry loops 59, 60. The loops are conveniently formed by knotting a loop of elastic band at a point spaced from its free end, and the buttons are conveniently attached by passing a portion of the loop through two of the holes of the button and tying the elastic back on itself.

The use of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the sheet (which does not contact the front of the legs) is placed on the person as in FIG. 3, and thereafter the elastic bands 53, 57, and 54, 58 are attached around the outside of the legs by engaging the respective buttons and loops.

It will be understood that the buttons and loops shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are merely single examples of fastening devices whereby bands are caused to draw the leg portions into engagement with the legs, and that any other type of fastener means would do as well, such as, for example, snaps, hooks, eyes, and the like.

FIG. 7 illustrates means whereby sheet 10 of FIG. 1 may be used in combination with another means of support which may be part of a garment, such as a corset or girdle 65. The inside of the garment is provided with a pair of loops 66, 67, one at each side of the waist. A pair .of suspension cords, such as cords 68 (FIG. 11), are provided. These comprise a piece of round elastic cord with .a pair of buttons 69, 70, at its ends. The buttons are held in place by passing the respective cord end through a pair of holes in the button, and then looping the free ends back onto the cord and tying them at knots 71, 72. When cords 68 and 73 pass through respective loops 66, 67, they provide four lengths 74, 75, 76, 77 of suspension material, each having a button at its free end for attachment to and suspension of the four corners of the sheet as shown.

The article is installed by first putting on the corset or girdle, and pulling up the cover from the bottom to expose the loops. The cords are then passed through their respective loops and centered. It will not ordinarily be found necessary to knot the center of the cords to the loops. Instead, a certain amount of self-adjustment is provided by allowing the cords to slide freely in the loops. The back corners of the sheet are buttoned to the rear lengths, and the sheet is passed forward through the crotch and buttoned to the front buttons. The corset cover is then pulled down, and the device is in place for wear.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of suspension means which may be used in place of that shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 illustrates means to provide adjustment means to vary the size of the waistband. A pair of cords 80, 81 are laid out alongside each other, anda pair of slide fasteners 82, 83 join them together at spacedapart locations. These slide fasteners grasp the cords on which they are mounted, and their locations can be changed as desired. These slides thereby provide a waistband 84 with an adjustable opening 85 therein, and also provides four pendant lengths 86, 87, 88, 89, at the .end of each of which there is a fastener 90, 91, 92, 93. Lengths 86, 87, and 88, 89 are in effect continuous through the fastener.

Fasteners 90-93 are a type which can be used instead of a button in any of the embodiments. Fastener 90 is shown in full detail, and is typical of them all. It comprises a flat piece of material 94, perhaps of plastic material, with a slit 95 or other opening therein. The end of the respective length is formed into a loop 96. The loop is passed through the slit and the length is passed through the loop to form a noose 97, by means of which the material 94 is held to the free end of the length. The flat piece may then be passed through the buttonhole, and may be used like a button, with the further advantage of lying flat and in line with its length.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which is useful for persons who cannot get a waistband up over the legs or down over the head. Bedridden or very obese persons are examples. FIG. 10 shows a waistband having a button 101 at one of its free ends, and a loop 102 at its other end. This waistband is put on simply by slipping it beneath the person, or if the person is unable to stand up, by drawing it around and fastening the button and loop together to form a belt. Then two cords, such as cords 68 of FIG. 11, are hung over the waistband at opposite sides. Thus there are buttons hanging from pendant ends of each of four lengths 103, 104, 105, 106, to which a sheet, such as sheet 10 of FIG. 1, is to be attached.

Waistband 30, loops 67, and waistbands 84 and 100 are sometimes called support means. The buttons and other means for fastening the lengths to the sheet are sometimes called fastener means. It will be noted that when laid out flat, the buttonholes or places where the fastener means are to be attached lie in a quadrilateral pattern, the term quadrilateral relating to four spacedapart locations which, in this case, happen to be a trapezoid. However, the trapezoid illustration is not a limitation on the generality of the arrangement.

It is believed that the application of the device will be evident from the above description. The article of apparel serves to protect the outer clothing from contact with portions of the human body, particularly the back and front portions adjacent to the crotch, and the crotch portion itself. One of the problems in devising a garment of this type is that of keeping it in place as the wearer moves around, bends, sits down, stands up, etc. For example, in previously known garments of this type, when the wearer sits down, the garment skids forward, and leaves bare and unprotected a large area on the rear of the person, perspiration from which may damage the outer garment. That is overcome by this device by the unique suspension means, together with the particular construction of the sheet. Solving the problem of sitting down simultaneously solves the problems of other body movements.

When a person sits down, her length measured between the waist and a selected location on the back of the leg below the buttocks greatly increases. The length measured from the waist to a selected location on the front of a persons leg along the surface does not greatly change. The problem is to keep a garment from being drawn in back by movement of the leg, which would pull down the back. A garment which only loosely touched the back of the legs and were not drown forward by the leg on its forward movement would not pull down. As a practical matter, this means that there should be no engagement of the garment with the front of the leg, because this is what would cause the back portion to be pulled forward. It has been found that so long as there is no substantial contact of the garment with the front areas of the legs that the sheet will remain in position with its end at about the same spacing from the waistline even when the wearer sits down, because there is nothing which tends to pull the device forward. For example, this means that the rear portion of the sheet may cover as much of the buttocks as desired, and as much as desired of the rear of the legs. However, any binding contact with the legs which will tend to make any portion of the sheet move with the legs will cause the sheet to shift. Accordingly, when the chafe-guarding leg portions of FIG. 6 are utilized, the sheet can be expected to creep forward when the person sits down. However, the elastic nature of the lengths will permit a great resiliency so that when the person stands up again, the sheet will immediately be restored to its previous position.

The device of FIGS. l4, however, will not creep forward, and the front and back portions will maintain the same elevations relative to the waist when the person sits as when he stands. This is because there is no contact with the front of the leg or any portion of the leg which moves forward or back, or which changes angle relative to the torso when the person sits down. This absence of contact with the front of the leg enables a construction to be made wherein the device retains its orientation relative to the waist when the user sits down, and thereby remains useful in protecting the wearer in every position, sitting or standing.

The device of FIG. 6, while providing less protection when the wearer sits down than that of FIG. 3, is still very useful in that it protects large areas (even though when the wearer sits down some of the areas in the back are exposed), and has the additional advantage, particularly useful to obese persons, of minimizing chafing of the legs.

The device of FIGS. 7 and 8 has all the advantages of that of FIGS. 1-4, plus the advantage that it can be held up by the wearers regular corset or girdle. The only modification of the corset or girdle which is required is the provision of the two simple loops at the sides of the'waist inside the corset or girdle.

The device of FIG. 10 has all the advantages of that known inFIGS. 1-4, plus the additional one that a bedridden person can put it on while lying in bed.

Thus, the invention provides coverage for people in any degree of activity from completely sedentary and bedridden, to athletic activity, in a structure which can conveniently be utilized by any person. The suspension cords are light, inexpensive, and easily replaced. In fact, the whole garment is of utmost simplicity.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the description which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of wearing apparel comprising: a flexible sheet of material having dimensions of length and width, the dimension of length being adapted to pass through the crotch of a wearer and to be brought up in front of and behind the wearer, the dimension of width of the part of the flexible sheet which is adapted to stand in front of the wearer being less than its dimension of length, whereby the sheet when drawn up in front of a person will lie substantially entirely upon the abdomen; suspension means for the sheet comprising two pairs of lengths of elastic material, the two lengths of each pair being joined at a point, there being two of said points, a fastener on each of said lengths spaced from the respective point, and support means for supporting the lengths at the respective points; the sheet being adapted to receive the fastener means at places in a quadrilateral pattern, whereby when the sheet is passed through the crotch and brought up in front of and behind the wearer, the fasteners may be fastened to the sheet at two places to the front and to the back of the wearer in said quadrilateral pattern, one of said points being disposed at each side of the wearer and above the fasteners when they are fastened to the sheet as aforesaid, whereby, with the lengths supported as aforesaid, and the said four places of attachment of the fasteners to the sheet being the sole points of restraint on the sheet, the supporting forces exerted by the lengths are directly upwardly and outwardly relative to the wearer when in a standing position, the sheet being thereby freely supported from the said two points at the side of the wearer.

2. An article of wearing apparel comprising: a flexible sheet of material having dimensions of length and width, the dimension of length being adapted to pass through the crotch of a wearer and to be brought up in front of and behind the wearer, the dimension of width of the part of the flexible sheet which is adapted to stand in front of the wearer being less than its dimension of length, whereby the sheet when drawn up in front of a person will lie substantially entirely upon the abdomen; suspension means for the sheet comprising two pairs of lengths of elastic material, the lengths of each pair being joined at a point, there being two of said points, a button on each of said lengths spaced from the respective point, and support means for supporting the lengths at the respective points; the sheet having four buttonholes at places in a quadrilateral pattern, whereby when the sheet is passed through the crotch and brought up in front of and behind the wearer, the buttons may be attached to the sheet at two places to the front and to the back of the wearer in said quadrilateral pattern, one of said points being disposed at each side of the wearer and above the buttons when they are attached to the sheet as aforesaid, whereby, with the lengths supported as aforesaid, and the said four places of attachment of the buttons to the sheet being the sole point of restraint on the sheet, the supporting forces exerted by the lengths are directed upwardly and outwardly relative to the wearer when in a standing position, the sheet being thereby freely supported from the two points at the side of the wearer.

3. An article according to claim 2 in which the two lengths at each side are continuously connected.

4. An article according to claim 3 in which the support means comprises an undergarment having a loop at each side thereof engaged by said lengths for supporting the said lengths.

5. An article according to claim 3 in which the support means comprises an elastic waistband adapted to pass around the waist of the wearer and supporting said lengths.

6. An article according to claim 3 in which a pair of leg portions for leg shields are attached to opposite sides of the sheet at medial locations along its length, each leg portion being provided with attachment means for surrounding the respective leg and holding the leg portions in place on the inside of the leg.

7. An article according to claim 6 in which the attachment means comprise an elastic member fixed to each leg portion, and fastener means for holding the elastic member around the leg.

8. An article according to claim 6 in which the attachment means comprise a pair of elastic members attached to each leg portion, a button on one elastic member, and a loop on the other, whereby the elastic members can be fastened together around the leg.

9. An article of Wearing apparel comprising: a flexible sheet of material having dimensions of length and width, the dimension of length being adapted to pass through the crotch of a wearer and to be brought up in front of and behind the wearer, the dimension of width of the part of the flexible sheet which is adapted to stand in front of the wearer being less than its dimension of length, whereby the sheet when drawn up in front of a person will lie substantially entirely upon the abdomen; suspension means for the sheet comprising two pairs of lengths of elastic material, the two lengths of each pair being joined at a point, there being two of said points, a fastener on each of said lengths spaced from the respective points, and support means for supporting the lengths at the respective points; the sheet being adapted to receive the fasteners at places in a quadrilateral pattern, whereby when the sheet is passed through the crotch and brought up in front of and behind the wearer, the fasteners may be attached to the sheet at two points to the front and to the back of the wearer in said quadrilateral pattern, one of said points being disposed at each side of the wearer and above the fasteners when they are fastened to the sheet as aforesaid, whereby, with the lengths supported as aforesaid, and the said four places of attachment of the fasteners to the sheet being the sole points of restraint on the sheet, the supporting forces exerted by the lengths are directed upwardly and outwardly relative to the wearer when in a standing position, the sheet being thereby freely supported from the said two points at the side of the wearer.

10. An article according to claim 9 in which the sus- .pension means comprise a pair of elastic cords knotted together at a pair of locations spaced from each other and from their ends to form the Waistband and lengths.

11. An article according to claim 9 in which the suspension means comprise a pair of elastic cords knotted together at a pair of locations spaced from each other and from their ends to form the waistband and lengths, the fastener means comprising four buttonholes in the sheet, and a button at the free end of each of the lengths.

12. An article according to claim 9 in which the suspension means comprise a pair of elastic cords fastened together by a pair of slidable fasteners at locations spaced from each other and from their ends to form the waistband and lengths.

'13. An article according to claim 12 in Which the fastener means comprise four buttonholes in the sheet, and a button at the free end of each of the lengths.

14. An article according to claim 9 in which the suspension means comprise a piece of elastic cord with fastener means to 'form it in a loop for a Waistband, and a pair of pieces of elastic cord with fastener means at each end, the last-named pieces being adapted to be draped over the Waistband to form the two pairs of lengths.

15. An article according to claim 9 in which a pair of leg portions for leg shields are attached to opposite sides of the sheet at medial locations along its length, each leg portion being provided with attachment means for surrounding the respective leg and holding the leg portions in place on the inside of the leg.

16. An article according to claim 15 in which the attachment means comprise an elastic member fixed to each leg portion, and fastener means for holding the elastic member around the leg.

17. An article according to claim 15 in which the attachment means comprise a pair of elastic members attached to each leg portion, a button on one elastic memher, and a loop on the other, whereby the elastic members can be fastened together around the leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,957 Schultz July 30, 1912 1,1 10,005 Petersen Sept. 8, 1914 1,342,588 Higgins June 8, 1920 2,503,666 Rockwell Apr. 11, 1950 2,572,331 Gillessen Oct. 23, 1951 2,615,445 Holmes Oct. 28, 1952 3,014,482 Case Dec. 26, 1961 

1. AN ARTICLE OF WEARING APPAREL COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE SHEET OF MATERIAL HAVING DIMENSIONS OF LENGTH AND WIDTH, THE DIMENSION OF LENGTH BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH THE CROTCH OF A WEARER AND TO BE BROUGHT UP IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE WEARER, THE DIMENSION OF WIDTH OF THE PART OF THE FLEXIBLE SHEET WHICH IS ADAPTED TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE WEARER BEING LESS THAN ITS DIMENSION OF LENGTH, WHEREBY THE SHEET WHEN DRAWN UP IN FRONT OF A PERSON WILL LIE SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY UPON THE ABDOMEN; SUSPENSION MEANS FOR THE SHEET COMPRISING TWO PAIRS OF LENGTHS OF ELASTIC MATERIAL, THE TWO LENGTHS OF EACH PAIR BEING JOINED AT A POINT, THERE BEING TWO OF SAID POINTS, A FASTENER ON EACH OF SAID LENGTHS SPACED FROM THE RESPECTIVE POINT, AND SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE LENGTHS AT THE RESPECTIVE POINTS; THE SHEET BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FASTENER MEANS AT PLACES IN A QUADRILATERAL PATTERN, WHEREBY WHEN 